Hollywood Censorship: Early Production Code Adopted

The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association agreed to abide by a new Hollywood Production Code, which imposed voluntary self-censorship on Hollywood films. The industry began wrestling with different forms of self-censorship in the 1920s. See, for example, the list of “don’ts and be carefuls” adopted on October 15, 1927.

The version of the “Code” adopted on this day was fairly mild, and criticisms of excessive sexuality in Hollywood films continued. The voluntary censorship crusade culminated in the notorious Hollywood Production Code on June 13, 1934, which imposed severe restrictions on American films for three decades.